COPYRIGHT and YOU

It's easier now than it ever was to violate someone's copyright.  All you have to do is "copy" or "save" and you've gotten an unauthorized copy of a person's work.

Please visit the US Copyright office to answer the following questions:

  1. What is a copyright?
  2. Who can claim a copyright?
  3. Can you claim copyright if you are not a US citizen?
  4. What works can be copyrighted?
  5. What is not protected by copyright?
  6. What are some reasons why it is good to use a notice of copyright on your work (there are at least 4).
  7. There are two symbols used to denote copyright depending on the published medium - what are they and in which medium is each used?
  8. Can you copyright unpublished works?  If so, how?
  9. Do you have to register your copyright? If not, why not?
  10. How long does an unregistered copyright endure?
  11. How long does a registered copyright endure?
  12. Is there an International Copyright?
  13. Explain "Mandatory Deposits".
  14. What is "fair use"?

The answers to the next 5 questions will require you to apply what you have learned in answering the previous questions.

  1. How do you think copyright applies to information on the Internet?
  2. What is the difference between ShareWare and FreeWare?
  3. What steps would you take to use a picture (graphic) you found on someone's site on the Internet on your computer at home?
  4. What steps would you take to use a picture (or graphic) you found on someone's site on the Internet on your own Internet Web Site (Page)?
  5. How do you "cite" an internet source in your documentation?

Here are some helpful links to other places that have information about copyrighting:

Link to Intellectual Property Magazine,     Link to TV Index for US and Canada,     Link to "Cyberlaw"

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Designed, programmed, edited and copyrighted by:  Ms Gunn � 1998     Last Updated: 04/12/98